California Law States You Must Drive With Your Headlights On

According to the National Safety Council, 25% of driving occurs at night but it leads to 50% of all traffic deaths. It doesn’t matter whether the road is familiar; operating a vehicle at night can be more dangerous.

In response to the risks on the road, the State of California Department of Transportation has a few rules on headlight use.

Drivers must turn on their headlights half an hour before sunset to half an hour before sunrise or during snow, rain, fog, and other inclement weather conditions that require continuous use of windshield wipers.

You should also have the headlights on when visibility is insufficient to see a vehicle or person 1000 feet apart. DMV also bars drivers from operating vehicles with parking lights only. Even so, drivers can use parking lights as signals or as additional lighting to headlamps.

If you are in an accident with a driver because they failed to comply with the law, consider speaking to an experienced car accident attorney in San Diego about your rights to hold them accountable.

Dangers of Night Time Driving

Impaired Drivers

Safe driving requires coordination, focus, good judgment, and quick reactions to road hazards. Most drugs and alcohol impair the ability to drive safely.

In 2020, 11,654 accident victims died in motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers, accounting for 30% of all traffic fatalities in the United States. Interestingly, impaired drivers are more frequently on the road after dark— mostly on hours around midnight and 3 am on weekends.

Hindered Night Vision

Only a small number of people can see well in low-light conditions. As people age, the ability to see well at night reduces. For instance, a 50-year-old driver may need twice as much light to see clearly than a 30-year-old driver.

Cataracts and generative eye diseases may also compromise night-time vision for old drivers.

Drivers with hindered night vision can mitigate the risks of accidents by:

• Reducing their driving speed
• Taking annual vision exams
• Limiting driving to daytime, if possible
• Discussing with a health provider about the side effects of drugs
• Avoid distractions like talking to passengers, operating the phone, or eating and drinking
• Taking a refresher course

Fatigue

Tired drivers have a challenge perceiving or processing information. For instance, a tired driver may only realize they’ve shifted into the next lane when it’s too late to avoid a severe accident. Fatigue occurs due to poor-quality sleep, long shifts, and sleep disorders.

Most near misses or crashes occur when it is normal for drivers to be tired from 4 to 6 am, midnight to 2 am, and 2 to 4 pm.

Drivers can avoid accidents by:

• Avoiding driving if they’ve been awake for 16 hours or more
• Traveling when you’re generally awake
• Getting seven or more hours of sleep at night

Rush Hour

Driving is dangerous in the evening rush hour (between 4 pm and 7 pm) because of crowded roads, with drivers eager to get home after work. During the winter season, it is usually dark in the evening rush hour, compounding the dangerous driving situation.

In addition to putting your headlights on, drivers can reduce the risk of road accidents by:

• Practicing patience by slowing down
• Observing lane discipline and being aware of drivers who dart from one lane to the other
• Consult a map before going to unfamiliar routes
• Avoid distracted driving habits such as drinking or eating while driving

Accidents Caused By Low Visibility

Poor visibility occurs for various reasons, including fog, heavy rain, or night-time driving, which prevent a driver from seeing another driver on the road. During low visibility conditions, drivers find it difficult to perceive danger, contributing to car accidents.

Here are the common types of accidents due to low visibility:

Roll-over Accidents

A roll-over accident occurs when a driver suddenly swerves the steering wheel to navigate a road hazard. Most roll-over accidents involve single vehicles but can also include others if the car rolls into oncoming traffic.

Head-on Collisions

A head-on or frontal collision occurs when two vehicles approaching from different directions crash into each other. Head-on collisions are common at night for various reasons, including when two sleep-deprived drivers bump into each other head-on.

Alcohol use also rises in the afternoon and evening hours, which increases night-time disorientation and can cause the driver to enter the lane of an oncoming driver.

Common injuries associated with head-on collisions include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Neck Injuries
• Back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal bleeding

Side Impact Collisions

A side impact collision occurs when a vehicle moving in a particular direction strikes another vehicle perpendicularly. The affected cars form a ‘T-shape’ when they collide. Side-impact collisions put the occupants of the car struck on the side in danger.

Usually, the side of the vehicle has less mass to absorb the impact force compared to the front or the rear part. Side-impact collisions at night are caused by drivers’ failure to yield, disregarding traffic signs, or failure to yield at intersections.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions occur when the front of a vehicle hits the rear end of a car. They often happen when a driver loses concentration or follows too closely. When a driver doesn’t maintain enough space for the front driver, the rear driver may lack enough time and space to brake and avoid a collision.

When the rear driver causes a crash by following too closely, they may be at fault. Despite the speed, rear-end accidents cause mild to severe injuries ranging from cuts and broken bones to spinal cord injuries.

Get in Touch With an Experienced California Car Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one sustain a severe injury in a night-time car accident. In that case, you may endure pain and suffering, hefty medical bills, and reduced quality of life. You, therefore, deserve representation from an experienced attorney who’ll aggressively pursue a fair settlement value.

The Barnes Firm is a team of highly qualified legal professionals with over 500 years of combined experience, which gives us an advantage in representing you. Contact us online or at (800) 800-0000 for a free case evaluation.

Car Accident Lawyer Los Angeles
Oakland Car Accident Lawyer
San Diego Car Accident Lawyer
San Jose Car Accident Lawyer
San Francisco Car Accident Lawyer

Richard Barnes – President of The Barnes Firm

Richard Barnes: “As President of The Barnes Firm, I have dedicated my career to achieving justice in hundreds of cases for the victims of injuries caused through the fault of others. Additionally, I have been honored to have been elected Best Lawyer and a Super Lawyer”

Years of Experience: 30+ years
LinkedIn Profile: Richard Barnes